Eel holder

ABSTRACT

An eel holder which includes an elongate hollow tube having a flared inlet end and a longitudinal slot extending from end to end of the tube. The tube is supported on a base and has a transverse slot opening downwardly therein at the end thereof opposite the inlet end. A clamp member is pivotally secured to the tube and has a jaw member which engages through the transverse slot to clamp an eel immediately back of the head to immobilize the eel while removing the hook. A bar is secured to the tube and extends upwardly therefrom. A plurality of bores are formed in the bar to receive a securing pin extending through the clamp so as to adjustably secure the clamp in clamping position to permit both hands to be used in extracting the hook from the mouth of the eel.

' United States Patent H91 Naill EEL HOLDER [76] Inventor: Willis D. Naill, 703 E. Valencia Street, Lakeland, Fla. 3380] 221 Filed: Dec'. 28, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 213,055

[52] U.S. CI. 43/535 [51] Int. Cl A0lk 97/00 [58] Field of Search 43/535, 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,547,592 4/1951 Morris 43/535 2,091,893 8/1937 Tillinghast 43/535 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. Leach Attorney-Hyman Berman, Stanford W. Berman, Theodore Bishoff et al.

i June 12, 1 973 [57] ABSTRACT An eel holder which includes an elongate hollow tube having a flared inlet end and a longitudinal slot extending from end to end of the tube. The tube is supported on a base and has a transverse slot opening downwardly therein at the end thereof opposite the inlet end. A

clamp member is pivotally secured to the tube and has a jaw member which engages through the transverse slot to clamp an eel immediately back of the head to immobilize the eel while removing the hook. A bar is secured to the tube and extends upwardly therefrom. A plurality of bores are formed in the bar to receive a securing pin extending through the clamp so as to adjustably secure the clamp in clamping to permit both hands to be used in extracting the hook from the mouth of the eel.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures EEL HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to holders for holding eels as the hook is being extracted from the eel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the invention shown partially broken away and offset for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the invention from the side opposite that illustrated in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally an eel holder constructed in accordance with the invention.

The eel holder 10 includes a base 11 adapted to be secured to any desired support such a boat, pier or the like. A bar 12 is rigidly secured to the base 11 and extends perpendicularly upwardly therefrom.

An elongate tube 13 is arranged in a generally horizontal position above the bar 12. A pair of spaced parallel ears 14 are rigidly secured to the tube 13 and extend downwardly on opposite sides of the bar 12. A bolt 15 extends through the ears 14 and the bar 12 pivotally securing the ears 14 to the bar 12. A wing nut 16 clamps the ears 14 to the bar 12 to prevent pivotal movement of the tube 13 with respect to the bar 12.

The tube 13 has a longitudinal slot 17 extending throughout the length of the tube 13. The tube 13 flares outwardly in a funnel-shaped end portion 18 having a downwardly curved lip 19 formed along the lower outer edge thereof. The slot 17 flares outwardly at 20 in the funnel-shaped end portion 18 for reasons to be assigned.

The opposite end of the tube 13 has an upwardly and rearwardly sloping end edge 21 as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

A transverse slot 22 is formed in the tube 13 immediately adjacent the sloping edge 21. A pair of ears 23, 24 are rigidly secured to one side of the tube 13 in spaced apart parallel relation and positioned on opposite sides of the slot 22. An upstanding retainer bar 25 is rigidly secured to the tube 13 in aligned relation to the ear 23 on the side of the tube 13 opposite the ear 23. A clamp member 26 has one end positioned between the ears 23, 24 and is pivotally secured therein by a pivot pin 27. The clamp member 26 has a handle 28 and a clamping jaw member 29 adapted to engage through the slot 22 into the interior of the tube 13 to clamp an eel shown in broken lines at 30 in FIG. 3. The handle 28 has retainer pin bores 31 and 32 formed therein to cooperate respectively with a plurality of bores 33 and a second plurality of bores 34 formed in the retainer bar 25.

A retainer pin 35 is adapted to engage through a selected one of the bores 31, 32 and a selected one of the plurality of bores 33, 34 to lock the clamp member 26 in a clamping position. A chain 36 is connected at one end to the bar 25 and at the opposite end to the retainer pin 35 to keep the retainer pin 35 in a convenient position for use.

In the use and operation of the invention after catching an eel 30 the clamp member 26 is opened wide to completely clear the slot 17 and the fish line is dropped downwardly through the slot 17 and its flared portion 20 and the eel 30 is then drawn into the tube 13. The lip 19 assists in guiding the hook, if any portion thereof is exposed into the tube 13 without hanging up. With the eel 30 pulled into the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the clamp member 26 is lowered to clamp it onto the eels body immediately adjacent the head and the retainer pin 35 is inserted through a selected one of the bores 31, 32, 33 and 34 to secure the clamp member 26 in its clamping position with respect to the eel 30. This relieves both hands of the fisherman and he can use suitable tools to remove the fish hook from the mouth of the eel.

The eel 30 is then removed from the eel holder 10 by releasing the pressure on the clamp 26 to permit the eel to be dropped overboard or into a container provided for the eels.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An eel holder for holding eels while removing a fish hook therefrom comprising an elongate hollow tube, a funnel-shaped end portion formed on one end of said tube, said tube having the opposite end thereof sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the funnelshaped end portion, said tube having a transverse slot extending thereacross and a longitudinal slot extending completely from end to end therein, including the funnel-shaped end portion, a clamp member pivotally se cured to said tube and movable downwardly in said transverse slot to clamp the body of an eel positioned in said tube, means on said tube cooperating with means on said clamp member for retaining the clamp member in a plurality of clamping positions and a base with said tube mounted on said base for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal pivot.

2. An eel holder for holding eels while removing a fish hook therefrom comprising an elongate hollow tube, a funnel-shaped end portion formed on one end of said tube, said tube having the opposite end thereof sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the funnelshaped end portion, said tube having a transverse slot extending thereacross and a longitudinal slot extending completely from end to end therein, including the funnel-shaped end portion, a clamp member pivotally secured to said tube and movable downwardly in said transverse slot to clamp the body of an eel positioned in said tube, means on said tube cooperating with means on said clamp member for retaining the clamp member in a plurality of clamping positions said means securing said clamp member to saidtube including a pair of ears rigidly secured to said tube on opposite sides of said transverse slot and a pivot pin extending through said ears and through said clamp member to pivotally secure said clamp member to said ears.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for retaining said clamp in clamping position includes an upright retainer bar rigidly secured to one side of said tube in aligned relation to one of said ears on the side of said tube opposite said ears, said retainer bar having a plurality of bores formed therein to cooperate with a bore in said clamp member and a retainer pin for engaging through the bore in said clamp member and a selected one of the plurality of bores in said retainer bar to retain said clamp member in clamped position.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a jaw is formed on said clamp member for engaging through said slot.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a jaw is formed on said clamp member for engaging through said slot. 

1. An eel holder for holding eels while removing a fish hook therefrom comprising an elongate hollow tube, a funnel-shaped end portion formed on one end of said tube, said tube having the opposite end thereof sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the funnel-shaped end portion, said tube having a transverse slot extending thereacross and a longitudinal slot extending completely from end to end therein, including the funnel-shaped end portion, a clamp member pivotally secured to said tube and movable downwardly in said transverse slot to clamp the body of an eel positioned in said tube, means on said tube cooperating with means on said clamp member for retaining the clamp member in a plurality of clamping positions and a base with said tube mounted on said base for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal pivot.
 2. An eel holder for holding eels while removing a fish hook therefrom comprising an elongate hollow tube, a funnel-shaped end portion formed on one end of said tube, said tube having the opposite end thereof sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the funnel-shaped end portion, said tube having a transverse slot extending thereacross and a longitudinal slot extending completely from end to end therein, including the funnel-shaped end portion, a clamp member pivotally secured to said tube and movable downwardly in said transverse slot to clamp the body of an eel positioned in said tube, means on said tube cooperating with means on said clamp member for retaining the clamp member in a plurality of clamping positions said means securing said clamp member to said tube including a pair of ears rigidly secured to said tube on opposite sides of said transverse slot and a pivot pin extending through said ears aNd through said clamp member to pivotally secure said clamp member to said ears.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for retaining said clamp in clamping position includes an upright retainer bar rigidly secured to one side of said tube in aligned relation to one of said ears on the side of said tube opposite said ears, said retainer bar having a plurality of bores formed therein to cooperate with a bore in said clamp member and a retainer pin for engaging through the bore in said clamp member and a selected one of the plurality of bores in said retainer bar to retain said clamp member in clamped position.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a jaw is formed on said clamp member for engaging through said slot.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a jaw is formed on said clamp member for engaging through said slot. 